Microstar Laboratories, maker of Data Acquisition Processor (DAP) boards and network-ready DAP servers, has brought out the MSXB 085 isolated analogue expansion and termination board.
Using signal isolation and isolated signal grounds, the MSXB 085 protects signals from noise, with the latter also protecting against ground loops.
Each board provides 16 isolated analogue inputs and two isolated analogue outputs.
All inputs are differential, with 16-bit data conversion on the board itself, minimising exposure to noise elsewhere in the system.
The board can sample signal inputs at 333,000 samples per second and can update both signal outputs at 500,000 updates per second.
A single DAP board can support up to eight MSXB 085 boards.
The MSXB 085 board fits into a backplane in a standard industrial enclosure, similar to other signal-conditioning products that conform to the external hardware specifications of the Microstar Laboratories channel architecture: signal connectors on 3U (100mm high) Eurocard B (220mm deep) boards - Eurocards that often pre-process a signal.
Signals connect to a DB37 male connector or to Wago connectors.
A backplane connector on each board connects it to a digital backplane factory fitted into the industrial enclosure.
An interface board that also plugs into the backplane sends digitised waveforms to a DAP board controlled from a PC or DAPserver.
MSXB 085 boards also fit directly into a DAPserver to form a networked, isolated instrument.
DAP boards make a robust platform for high-performance data acquisition and control systems.
PCs and rack-mountable DAPserver system packages can each contain and control more than one DAP board.
Every DAP board includes an onboard processor running a real-time operating system.
Windows applications that support DLL calls can control a DAP board by communicating with this onboard operating system.
A DAP board can be controlled from DAPstudio, a Windows application from Microstar Laboratories, as well as from third-party software, which can be done from any PC on a network.
For smaller systems, a single DAPserver can be hooked up to any PC with an Ethernet connection.
A keyboard and screen can be attached to the DAPserver and be controlled directly using software preloaded at the factory.
It is possible to download an unrestricted version of DAPstudio, though a DAP board is required to use all its features.
The company provides evaluation hardware at no charge.
